Passive Voice

Basic structure: BE VERB (verb tense) + PAST PARTICIPLE (main verb)

Verb Tense Active Voice Passive Voice

Present simple Know Is/are/am known
Present continuous Is/are/am taking Is/are/am being taken
Past simple Understand Was/were understood
Past continuous Was/were working Was/were being worked
Present perfect simple Have/has gone Has/have been gone
Past perfect simple Had written Had been written
Be going to Is/are/am going to read Is/are/am going to be read

Purpose:

A. The person doing the action (agent) is less important that the object

The examiner marked my exam; however, the examiner didn’t mark hers.  okay, but the examiner isn’t important

 My exam was marked (by the examiner); however, hers wasn’t (marked). = BETTER

The World Cup was held in Brazil.  better than FIFA held the World Cup in Brazil, because FIFA isn’t important.

B. We don’t know who the agent is

Someone broke into my house last night!  of course it was someone, but we don’t know who

 My house was broken into last night = BETTER

 My bicycle was stolen.

C. The agent is obvious

The ambulance driver took the man to the hospital in the ambulance  sounds weird, because the only person who drives an
ambulance is the ambulance driver

 The man was taken to the hospital in the ambulance. = BETTER

 That woman was arrested for murder.

D. You don’t want to say who the agent is (because it’s impolite or upsetting)

My boss: I was told that you arrived late to work this morning.  you are focused on the action, not the agent = BETTER

My boss: Fred told me that you arrived late to work this morning.  you are focused on the agent, and you might get angry at
Fred

Your food was eaten last night  I don’t want to say who did it.

My fridge was scratched, do you know anything about that?  more polite than “You scratched my fridge”

Other passive forms:

A. Verbs with gerunds: verb + being + past participle

I enjoyed being told (=someone telling me) about the history of the city.

I loved being cooked my favourite meal (by my mum) when I was young.

I appreciated being listened to by friends.

I dislike being ignored.

I hate being interrupted.

I remember being taken to hospital when I was young.

I don’t remember being taken to Brisbane when I was a child.

I regret not being given the promotion.

B. Verbs with to + infinitives: verb + to be + past participle

I want to be given a promotion at work  who is doing the action? My boss, which is obvious

I hope to be given a better job.

I asked to be invited to the party.

I chose to be put in charge of the project. = I chose for my boss to put me in charge.

We are to be taught English.

C. Prepositions: verb + preposition + being + past participle

Every actor dreams of…being nominated for an Oscar  Who is nominating them? The Academy

She looks forward to being provided benefits from the company.

He is working hard on being taken seriously at work.

I thought about being given a better salary/raise.

They talked about being given some help by the government.

D. Had to and Used to: Had to/Used to + be + past participle

I have to…be tested on my vocabulary and grammar on Friday.  who is testing you? The teacher.

I used to…be taught mathematics/by Sam.

I had to…be taken to hospital.

I used to…be encouraged/forced to go to tennis.

E. Modals (will/should/could/can/ought to/must/etc.) + be (present)/have been (past) + participle

The house will…be painted.

Because his boss is unhappy with him, he could…be fired.

You should…be taken to hospital because you very sick.

He ought to be arrested for robbery!

F. The first/second/last/etc. (+ noun) + to be + past participle

The last American president…to be elected was…Joe Biden.

The first Olympics…to be held was in Greece.

The second lockdown to be imposed/implemented was in July.